Villa are still unbeaten in seven games since Bruce took charge, and their newly sturdy defence has certainly helped in that regard.
Jonathan Kodjia and Jack Grealish may have stolen the headlines as they inspired Aston Villa to a 3-1 win against Cardiff City on Saturday, but manager Steve Bruce took time to praise his in-form defence on the club’s official website.
Villa’s back-line has ranged from the calamitous to the catastrophic in recent months, with Roberto Di Matteo’s side frequently falling apart under the slightest semblance of pressure and gifting points and goals as a result.
However, the same personnel have appeared much more solid since Bruce took over in October, conceding only six times in the seven games since the Italian’s dismissal.
And, although Rickie Lambert was allowed to finish one-on-one in the first half, the former Hull City boss reserved special praise for left-back Jordan Amavi, who continues to impress after returning from an horrific knee injury, and experienced midfielder Mile Jedinak, who filled in to good effect at centre-half.
“[Nathan] Baker, who has had a smashing six weeks, got injured at half-time and I thought Jedinak, in particular, in the second half when they threw it in, there weren’t many headers he missed. I think he helped the back four,” Bruce told the club’s official website.
“Jordan Amavi was terrific considering he’s been out for 12 months. We starting to see him perform, which is great to see.”
Jedinak had endured the wrath of many Villa supporters after making a sluggish start to life in the Second City upon arriving from Crystal Palace, but he is starting to show his worth under Bruce.
Furthermore, Amavi’s energy and quality at both ends was badly missed by the club during his prolonged spell on the sidelines, with the France under-21 international finally making up for lost time in recent weeks.
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